Hannah Grace Liples, a student at Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, has been named a college-sponsored National Merit Scholar, receiving a scholarship from Samford University. This prestigious recognition is awarded to a select group of students across the United States, with only one percent of PSAT test-takers qualifying as semifinalists. The college-sponsored scholarships represent the final phase of the National Merit Scholarship program for the year, distinct from the earlier National Merit $2,500 scholarships and corporate-sponsored awards. In total, 45 students from Pennsylvania were honored with these scholarships, which provide financial support ranging from $500 to $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate education. Liples is interested in pursuing marine biology as her career. The selection process for the 2026 National Merit scholars began in October 2024, starting with about 16,000 semifinalists, of which around 15,000 met the academic standards to advance to the finalist stage, ultimately resulting in approximately 6,700 students earning the